McAllister adding another pitch with some downward action and a little separation from the fastball could be a terrific add for him. I didn't see him throw many sliders today, if at all. But he mixed the curve and the forkball effectively. Good run on the fastball. Really hard to center up the baseball against him. Love watching Gomes call a game as well.

I don't think McAllister's as good as he's been so far this season, but a 3.50 ERA seems very possible this season.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

Just a musing: Reynolds seems to acquit himself well at third. At what point if Chisenhall keeps scuffling do you just split the time at third between Reynolds and Aviles? I'd think the leash is pretty loose on Chisenhall, but if he's still struggling in June and this team is contending...

bookelly wrote:I like the forkball addition. Though I worry the extra elbow strain is gonna *sproing* his elbow. Isn't that why most guys don't throw that pitch? Or am I thinking screwball?

Late to the party, but to answer your question, the screwball is the pitch that turns the elbow almost inside-out. The forkball is easy on the shoulder and elbow, but hell on the tendons in the first and second digits:

Once you spread the tendons on the first and second digit, it continues to strain through the wrist, which then strains through the forearm, and eventually to the elbow.

Think that old kneebone connected to the hip bone kids song. It plays out in this situation. Not as bad as a screwball (nothing is), but still very risky, depending on the depth you bury the ball into your fingers.

Dellucci TailGator wrote:Just a musing: Reynolds seems to acquit himself well at third. At what point if Chisenhall keeps scuffling do you just split the time at third between Reynolds and Aviles? I'd think the leash is pretty loose on Chisenhall, but if he's still struggling in June and this team is contending...

They gave Chiz a couple of days off to work on his swing with the hitting coach. Let's see how he does the next few days.

Indians pitchers held the league's highest scoring offense to four runs in the first two games. That's impressive as hell. If the starting pitching continues like this we're in for a heck of a ride this year.

Unfortunately, the Tigers have won 9 of 10. Looks like they're putting it all together earlier this year.

I hope this recent stretch has taught the organization what happens when you invest in quality bench players. It's refreshing not to need everything to go absolutely perfectly with health/attrition to stay in the mix.

"Well then I guess there's only one thing left to do...win the whole, f***in', thing."- Jake Taylor